Purse with weight scale and locating device

ABSTRACT

A purse includes a hollow bag having at least one outer wall, a bottom wall and an open top in communication with an interior storage compartment. Within the interior compartment and secured to the bottom wall is an electronics casing having a weight sensor therein. The weight sensor is in communication with a digital display on the bag exterior to allow a user to readily determine the total weight of the purse. The electronics casing also includes a GPS receiver and mobile phone module for locating the purse if lost or stolen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/041,732 filed on Aug. 26, 2014, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a purse having an internal scale for instantly determining the purse's total weight.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Most women transport numerous items in a purse, such as cosmetics, a wallet, keys and other accessories. Often, an owner unwittingly overloads the purse to an excessive weight. Suspending an overloaded purse on the shoulders for a prolonged period of time is not only strenuous and exhausting, but can also cause a variety of musculoskeletal problems. Accordingly, there is currently a need for a device that can quickly determine a purse's weight to prevent overloading. The present invention addresses this need by providing a purse having an internal weight scale for instantly measuring the purse's total weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a purse comprising a hollow bag having at least one outer wall, a bottom wall and an open top in communication with an interior storage compartment. Within the interior compartment and secured to the bottom wall is an electronics casing having at least one weight sensor therein. The weight sensor is in communication with a digital display on the bag exterior to allow a user to instantly determine the total weight of the purse. The electronics casing also includes a GPS receiver and mobile phone module for locating the purse if lost or stolen.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a purse having an internal weight scale to allow a user to instantly determine the purse's total weight.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a purse having a GPS receiver and mobile phone module for locating the purse if lost or stolen.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a purse having a power interface for instantly recharging portable electronic devices.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, plan view of the purse according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isolated view of the power interface.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the various electronic components.

FIG. 4 is a top, isolated view of the electronics casing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a purse having an internal weight scale for preventing the purse from being needlessly overloaded. The purse comprises a hollow bag 1 having a front wall 2, a rear wall, two sidewalls, a bottom wall and an open top in communication with an interior storage compartment. However, the shape of the bag and number of outer walls can be varied. Extending from one sidewall to the other is a shoulder or hand strap 4 that a user grasps to transport the bag.

Within the interior chamber and fastened to the bottom wall is an electronics casing 22 that contains one or more weight sensors 40, a microcontroller 41, a GPS receiver 9 with GSM or a similar mobile-phone communication system, and a wireless data link 23, such as that commonly marketed and sold under the trademark Bluetooth.™ The microcontroller communicates with the weight sensors to continuously depict the total weight of the purse on a digital display 7 positioned on the bag front wall. A switch on the bag exterior allows a user to disable the electronics to conserve battery power whenever the purse is not in use. The wireless data link 23 also allows the measured weight to be transmitted to a designated wireless phone 33 or other portable electronic device having a specialized compatible application.

The microcontroller is also connected to a wireless telephone module and GPS receiver 9 to allow a user to locate the purse if lost or stolen. Each telephone module is assigned a unique number to allow easy identification of the purse once located by the GPS receiver. Alternatively, the purse can be tracked with a smart-phone application or computer program that communicates with a database sponsored by the purse manufacturer. Instead of a unique mobile telephone number, the purse manufacturer would assign a discrete serial number to each purse, or group of purses belonging to a single owner. The manufacturer would retain responsibility for the mobile phone service to prevent the purse owner from incurring the cost of maintaining an additional wireless phone account. The purse could then be located and identified via the GPS module and associated serial number. The purse owner would access the database with any portable electronic device and enter the assigned serial number to generate a map on which the purse's location is tagged. The exact geographic coordinates may also be depicted for delivery to law enforcement if desired.

An interface 10 on the upper surface of the electronics casing includes a DC-input port 11 for receiving a power cord 12 that replenishes an internal smart charger and associated system battery 13. The interface also includes one or more DC-output ports 14 for recharging desired portable electronic devices with the smart charger.

An aftermarket embodiment for existing purses includes the electronics casing 22 being portable and having the above-described electronic components positioned therein. The portable casing is positioned within the interior storage compartment of a desired purse, resting on the bottom wall. Since a display cannot be easily incorporated into an existing purse, the weight sensors only transmit measurements to a smart phone via the wireless data communication link 23 as described above. Accordingly, a user can insert the portable casing into any existing purse and the measured weight is continuously transmitted to a designated smart phone having the compatible application. As with the integral embodiment, the portable casing preferably includes a power switch for disabling the electronics when the casing is not in use.

The above-described device is not limited to the exact details of construction and enumeration of parts provided herein. Furthermore, the size, shape and materials of construction of the various components can be varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination with a purse formed of a hollow bag having at least one outer wall, a bottom surface and an opening in communication with an interior storage chamber, a weight scale and locating device comprising: an electronics casing on the bottom wall of said bag; a weight sensor within said casing for measuring a total weight of said bag; a display device in communication with said weight sensor for depicting the total weight of said bag.
 2. The weight scale and locating device according to claim 1 wherein said electronics casing is removably positioned on said bottom wall to allow said casing to placed within another purse.
 3. The weight scale and locating device according to claim 1 wherein said electronics casing is attached to said bottom wall.
 4. The weight scale and locating device according to claim 1 wherein said display device is digital screen mounted on the at least one outer wall of said bag.
 5. The weight scale and locating device according to claim 1 wherein said display device is a portable electronic device in wireless communication with said weight sensor.
 6. The weight scale and locating device according to claim 1 wherein said electronics casing further includes a GPS receiver and a mobile phone module for remotely locating said bag.
 7. The weight scale and locating device according to claim 1 further comprising: a smart charger; an interface on said electronics casing having an input port electrically connected to said smart charger for coupling with a power cord, and an output port in communication with said smart charger for recharging a portable electronic device. 